Thursday, July 2, 2015

Former Oilers watch

- Post-free agency day. #Oilers

I was watching TSN or Sportsnet this morning--I can't remember which as yesterday was Canada Day and I was on my buddy's pontoon boat in a lake all day then zipped home to watch the fireworks, from my place, which were an utter disappointment even though I had it tuned to CKUA FM thinking the music was in sync with the explosions, which it wasn't.

Anyway, on the ticker at the bottom of the TV screen, a pile of names went whizzing by, all of which were former Oilers, which brings me to today's edition of "Former Oilers Watch" post-UFA/Canada Day. Here we go. Are you ready? No? You don't care, do you? Well, too bad. You're going to read it anyway.

Rangers GM Glen Sather, who's last act was to trade their backup goalie Cam Talbot to the Oilers for 2nd and 3rd round picks because he "wanted to help his old team", stepped down.

Leaves sign F Mark Arcobello to a 1-year $1.2 million deal. There could be a whole website called "Where's Arco?" that would get a lot of traffic because he moves around so much. Seriously. In one year, he went from Edmonton to Nashville to Pittsburgh to Arizona to Toronto. That's five flippin' teams. In Arizona he was a bright spot with 16 points in 27 games.

Not to out-do Arco, mayor of Hobbiton, Samwise Gagner, the former #6 draft pick has gone from Edmonton to Tampa Bay where he spent about 89 seconds to Arizona and now to Philadelphia where Ron Hextall said he likes his skill but will likely play him on the right wing. In Arizona, he had 41 points in 81 games, but they boldly said he's not an NHL centre. The Yotes get Grossmann and CHRIS FRICKIN PRONGER! Well, his contract anyway.

Speaking of former Oilers centres in Philly, Chris VandeVelde, (CVV like we used to call him. No not really) signed a 2-year extension.

Goalie Richard Bachman, who shone for the Oil in the last stretch, spending most of his time in OKC, was signed by the Vancouver Canucks for 2 years. Good on him. He was probably the best AHL goalie and it looks like he'll stay there for call ups if Markstrom or Miller get injured.

D-man Taylor Fedun also signed with the Canucks. Sharks didn't resign him, so good to see him get the chance he deserves.

Devan Dubnyk signed a monster 6 year deal with the Wild, whom he carried through the playoffs as far as he could.

Zack Stortini signed with the Montreal Canadiens for a punching bag and a hair cut after being UFA from Philly.

And last but not least, remember Shawn Horcoff? He was at the bottom of the UFA listing of 45 players. But, the Anaheim Ducks felt the need for his services and signed him to a 1-year $1.75m deal or something. Waaaaaaay less than the fat $5.5m he was making in Dallas and Edmonton.